IN ANY context, US$93 million is a lot of money.
In the context of Jamaica and the country's economic situation, it is a massive sum over J$6 billion at current exchange rates or about four per cent of the Government's allocation for spending on capital projects this fiscal year. This is the sum that the Government has budgeted for Jamaica to host matches in next year's Cricket World Cup, including the upgrading of the Sabina Park cricket ground in Kingston and a new stadium in Trelawny.
This newspaper supports Jamaica's involvement in the World Cup as an integral partner in West Indies cricket. From a psychological point of view we know it is good for the country and we suspect that there are some economic benefits to be had from the project.
What we are not clear on is whether we will actually get the bang for the buck, what that bang will be or if anyone else knows. No one seems to, and certainly not the Government.
If the Government has a picture of how benefits are to be maximised from this project, it certainly has not shared it with anyone, and, if anything, has taken a rather hands-off approach as was highlighted by Mr. Oliver Clarke, the chairman of the Gleaner Company, in his address a week ago to the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce.
This fast-and-loose approach to taxpayers' money was illustrated by the story in Wednesday's issue of this newspaper, regarding Jamaica Cricket 2007, the vehicle being used by the Government for its involvement in the project. For some, so far, inexplicable reason, this company was established two years ago with two nominee shareholders, suggesting that the process was not carried out by Government lawyers although, ultimately, 75 per cent of the
company is owned by the Government. We are told that the transfer of the shares to the Accountant General and the Jamaica Cricket Association is now taking place.
OTHER WORRYING MATTERS
This, however, is not the only matter that is worrying to us. For instance, no one seems to have a grip on how many visitors will come to Jamaica for the matches and where they will stay. So while there is talk about bringing ships to Kingston Harbour to act as short-term floating hotels and for bed-and-breakfast-type accommodation, we do not know on the basis of what numbers the plans are being formulated. Or if visitors stay in Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, whether the Government has thought of the trip to and from the games over Mount Rosser, across the single-lane Flat Bridge behind a slow-moving, smoke-belching trailer.
Neither do we have a sense that the Government has grabbed the concept, the big idea, of Cricket World Cup and begun to sensitise Jamaicans for it and the massive media scrutiny that will be on Jamaica and the rest of the cricketing Caribbean.
Perhaps now that Prime Minister Simpson Miller has returned from the CARICOM summit in Basseterre, where the matter of the Cricket World Cup was discussed she will have a grasp of the big picture, its potential and obstacles, and will give serious attention to the matter.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
